“So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread….” John 6.31-35
I AM THE BREAD. Drop the mic.
Is there anything more incredible than this? Here Jesus is having a discussion with Jews about believing and God’s provision who are still looking to Moses to save them. But Jesus corrects them by telling them it’s not Moses who provides but Father God. And God has provided manna in the desert in the past and bread to the world today.
The Jews make the connection between the old and the new and say to Jesus, “Give us this bread!” To which Jesus says, “I am the bread!”
The fullness of Jesus statement is “I am the bread of life,” but there’s something about reading it in it’s shortened form – “I am the bread.” (Tomorrow I will focus on the full statement.) But today, Jesus drops a bomb when he make the self-revelation that he is God’s provision, salvation and grace to the world.
What must that have felt like for Jesus to be able to say these words? It wasn’t news to Jesus, wasn’t surprising, didn’t catch him off guard. He always knew it, but to share it with the world, to proclaim it to humanity must have been freeing.
Just as God provided the mana in wilderness for the Hebrew people to save them from starvation, so God send Jesus into the world for all people to save us from our sins.
What a blessed Redeemer we have! A God who draws near, who appears in human form, who loves us so much that he would come to earth to save his people. Glory to God!
“O Lord God, you are so good. I praise you for your unending love and everlasting grace. When we were in the pit of hell, living in darkness, covered with shame, you came to this world and offered us bread from heaven. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your power and love. Help me live for you and be all that you have called and created me to be. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen
